Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-05-19

itSt pay NUM-
The committee, to which was re-
fcrred an examination into the
burning Of the female seminary,
reported to-day likewis" but their
report, not covering all the points
Of the investigation required, was
re-referred and the same COMMIT
tee has itnow before them. Oral
and documentary evidence has
been produced as to how the fire
originated and what was saved
from the flames. The question of
insurance was likewise mooted and
the causes why the building was
not insured were inquired into.
Mr.. A. A. Engart, insurance agent
at Muskogee, was before the COM
mittee. His statement is printed
below, which may or may not
prove satisfactory why our semin-
aries and orphan asylum were not
insured. The reader can draw his
oBD conclusions as to what are the
causes.
ENGART's STATEMENT.
Mr.. A. A. Engart, insurance
agent, sworn, makes the following
statement concerning insurance on
the female seminary:
"My business, principally, is
writing fire insurance my place
of business is Muskogee, L. T. !;
wrote an insurance on the male
and female seminaries and orphan
asylum about the first of March,
1886, for one year, which year ex-
pired about the first of March, 1887
There was eighty-four thousand
dollars, total, on all three build
ings, or an average of about twenty
eight thousand dollars on each
building. The rate was one
and three-quarter per cent. The
Phoenix, Of London; Phenix, of
Brooklyn, n. y; Commercial
Union, of London German-Amer-
ican, of N. Y. Niagra, of n. Y.
Insurance Company of North
America, of Philadelphia Pen
nsylvania Fire, of Philadelphia ;
Crescent, OF New Orleans South
ern, of New Orleans Hope, OF
New Orleans, are the ones that
they were insured in. Have not
insured the buildings but once-the
frst insurance was last March,
1886 supplied the proper author
tiles with policies the first Of
March, 1887, changing policies a
little for about ten thousand dol
lars additional insurance on each
building. These risks were to run
for three years at one and thirty
three and a third per centum, OF
four per cent. for three years.
did not receive any money from
the Cherokee authorities on these
last issues"
Q. "Why did you furnish these
policies?"
Ans. "Well, some time in Oct
ober, 1886, l had a letter from Mr..
Bushyhead. The substance Of the
letter was, he wanted me to be
present at council and furnish the
proper authorities with figures for
future insurance or renewal of the
old policies. ] was present here,
met the committee, gave them
rates and terms and told them the
class Of companies it would be
placed in. The rates gave were
one and thirty-three and a third
per cent. for one year or four per
cent for three years. Some time in
February, about the 25th or Goth,
| got letter from Mr.. Bushyhead
to come over; the appropriation
had been made and he did no.
want any time to lapse without in
surance. l met Mr.. Bushyhead,
with his secretary and they showed
me the act allowing one per cent.
for insurance. We had a talk over
it. told him we had no COM
panies that would meet these rates.
| don't know what understanding
we did have but l wrote the policies
and sent them over. The policies
were written after came over
here"
Q. "Why did you write these
policies, knowing the law only al
lowed one per cent?"
Ans. ~ thougt this defect could
be overcome. About the first Of
April had correspondence with
Mr.. Bushyhead, notifying him that
as / could get no money on policies
| had to cancel them and they were
cancelled. / wrote Mr.. Bushy-
head the 7th of April, telling him
to send me the check for five hun